Does John Edwards have a crisis on his hands or a new target on his back?

[wiley]

Identity of Edwards home buyers veiled
Assisted-living magnates in SEC probe paid candidate $5.2 million
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16678472/from/RS.2/

"Edwards aide Jennifer Palmieri said he left the details to real estate agent W. Ted Gossett. Gossett declined to reveal the Klaassens' identity but said the buyer decided to purchase the mansion as a "surprise Christmas gift" for his wife.

Edwards was told the Klaassens' name "in passing" around the time the offer came in on Dec. 18, Palmieri said last night, but he did not investigate further and had no knowledge of their business until a reporter's inquiry Wednesday. Palmieri said Edwards had not delved into the Klaassens' background: "They left it to be done at arm's length, real estate agent to real estate agent."

Asked about the allegations lodged against the Klaassens by their union stockholders, she added, "He believes all CEOs should follow the law, should protect their shareholders and should protect their workers, and he expects that will happen in this case as well."

"Ellen S. Miller, head of the nonpartisan Sunlight Foundation, which studies public officials' real estate deals, said presidential candidates should go the extra mile by determining who they are doing business with, especially when "a substantial amount of cash is changing hands on the eve of his campaign."......

"What went on there is totally inappropriate. It is very clear that very important insiders traded in this stock before it became known publicly and before the stock took a hit," said Stephen Abrecht, the SEIU's pension chief. "The pattern of stock-option grants seen here pretty much follows the pattern we've seen in other companies that were hit by corporate-governance issues."

Abrecht said he was unaware of the Edwards home deal and would reserve judgment on it."

[napi21]

1. Well, I'vew sold 4 houses andI didn't GAS who bought them.

Would I have knowingly sold my house to a drug dealer or the mafia, no. But I wouldnever bother to check the backgroung of a buyer. That's up to the lender IMO.

I don't agree with Ellen Miller. We all are complaining that our public officials are so removed from us and what the real world is like, they can't represent us. Now she's saying that they shoudl take the time to check a prospective buyers background????? Comeon.

[tkmorris]

2. This is a total non-issue

I'm not even sure why you bring this up as if it matters in some way. Yes, the article is from MSNBC, but we all know that it is nothing more than an attempt create doubts about his integrity, based upon nothing.

Think about it. I know the names of the couple my wife and I bought this house from, and they might remember ours, and that's IT. I have no idea if they were decent people, or what their religious beliefs might have been, or if they ran the largest pedophilia ring on the East Coast. I don't know and I don't care. They sold a house, we bought said house, and that was all we wanted to know about each other.

MSNBC should be embarrassed they even reported this as news. It's absurd.

[xchrom]

3. gasp! edwards sold his house!!!

that's about it.

[alarimer]

4. This is ridiculous

Did he pay fair market value? Yes. This is such a non-issue. Does anyone look into the backgrounds of people who buy their houses? I would bet the answer is overwhelmingly no.

[B Calm]

5. OMG!! this is hugh!

[trumad]

6. please tell me you forgot the sarcasm thingy?

[salin]

9. no need...

the mock on freeps per the spelling of "hugh!" instead of huge - works as a sarcasm tag. Also "Im Series!" does the same thing :D

[Neurotica]

7. This is not worthy of page A01 in the WP IMO

What is the editorial reason for this placement...

[demnan]

8. If that's all they can find on Edwards

I guess he's pretty clean. I bought my home from a lady in bankrupcy. Did this ruin my credit? No. It had nothing whatsover to do with me.

[salin]

10. new target on the back.

Unless there is evidence (ala Duke) of selling the house at WAY over market value - and then the seller quickly selling at market value and taking the loss ... to raise the eyebrows - then selling a house is selling a house. Third parties are used to handle the details.

This is a nonstory. Thus - would appear it is more target on the back, than it is "crisis".